Air Splaoid! the exciting new Gaelic learning and awareness campaign, to be launched in January 2007, is coming to the Royal National Mòd in Dunoon.

Air Splaoid! will attend the Mòd Press Conference on Tuesday 14th October to explain about the project and run a competition for Mòd week. There will also be a presentation stand at the Mòd on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Mòd week.

The project is an exciting new campaign to encourage everyone to learn some Gaelic. It will run through Highland 2007, the year when Scotland celebrates Highland culture, and is open to everyone.

Air Splaoid! will give people the chance to take part in a virtual tour sampling different events during Highland 2007. Air Splaoid! participants will choose an animated character to follow around the Highlands as they visit a range of exciting events on-line.

A year-long, online Gaelic course packed with fun, games and brilliant animations will engage learners and help dispel some of the myths surrounding the language. Learning will be made easy using fun activities interspersed with snippets of cultural and historical information. Every element will be available online making this a different learning experience. Anyone who is interested can register for information on Air Splaoid! at www.airsplaoid.co.uk

The project aims to:

• give people the chance to learn Gaelic
• promote wider access to Gaelic across Scotland
• increase the number of Gaelic speakers in the long-term
• dispel myths and preconceptions about the Gaelic language and culture

During Mòd week, Air Splaoid! will be running a fantastic competition. Dwelly, one of the Air Splaoid! characters, is lost in Dunoon. Anyone who finds him will be entered into a grand prize draw to win an engraved iPod shuffle. Runners-up will also receive prizes.

Register for Air Splaoid! at: www.airsplaoid.co.uk

For further information contact: Rachel Alcorn, Project Marketing Manager, Air Splaoid! Tel: (01471) 888 505 / email:
rachel@canan.co.uk

Gaelic version:

Thig ‘Air Splaoid!’ - an iomairt ionnsachaidh is fhiosrachaidh na Gàidhlig a thèid a chur air bhog san Fhaoilteach 2007 -  dhan Mhòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail ann an Dùn Omhainn.

Bruidhnidh sgioba ‘Air Splaoid!’ aig co-labhairt a’ Mhòid Dimàirt 14mh Dàmhair mu dheidhinn a’ phròiseict agus co-fharpais a bhios a’ ruith seachdain a’ Mhòid. Bidh bòrd-fiosrachaidh a’ phroiseict aig a’ Mhòd bho Dhiluain gu Diciadain.

Tha ‘Air Splaoid!’ na iomairt bheothachail ùr a bhrosnaicheas daoine gus Gàidhlig ionnsachadh. Bidh e a’ ruith air feadh Highland 2007, a’ bhliadhna a chomharraicheas Alba cultar na Gàidhealtachd, is tha e fosgailte do gach neach.

Bheir ‘Air Splaoid!’ cothrom do dhaoine pàirt a ghabhail ann an cuairt ‘mas-fhìor’ a bhios a’ tadhal air tachartasan diofraichte Highland 2007. Taghaidh luchd-cleachdaidh ‘Air Splaoid!’ caractaran cartùin a leanas iad ‘air-loidhne’ air feadh na Gàidhealtachd bho thachartas gu tachartas.

’S e cùrsa a mhaireas bliadhna is a th’ ann, a tha làn fealla-dhà, geamaichean is cartùnaichean mìorbhailteach a chumas grèim air mac-meanmna an luchd-ionnsachaidh. Cuiridh e às do bheachd-smaointean ceàrr mun Ghàidhlig, cuideachd. ‘S ann sìmplidh is a bhios na leasanan agus nam broinn bidh criomagan fiosrachaidh mu chultar is eachdraidh. Gheibhear a h-uile pàirt dhen chùrsa air-loidhne, a’ ciallachadh gur e iomairt ionnsachaidh ùr diofraichte a th’ ann. Faodaidh duine sam bith ùidh a nochdadh aig www.airsplaoid.co.uk

Tha e mar amas aig a’ phròiseact:

• cothrom a thoirt do dhaoine a’ Ghàidhlig ionnsachadh
• cothroman-ruigsinneachd air a’ Ghàidhlig fhosgladh air feadh na h-Alba
• àireamhan luchd-labhairt na Gàidhlig àrdachadh anns an ùine-fhada
• cuir às do bheachdan ceàrr mu chànan is chultar na Gàidhlig

Tha co-fharpais sgoinneil ‘Air Splaoid!’ gu bhith a’ ruith tro sheachdain a’ Mhòid. Tha Dwelly, fear de na caractaran againn, air chall ann an Dùn Omhainn. Ma lorgas duine sam bith Dwelly, thèid na h-ainmean aca a chur a-steach airson iPod Shuffle a bhuannachadh. Bidh duaisean eile ann cuideachd.